On November 8, fans of the Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv were attacked in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, resulting in dozens of injuries. After the incident, the Israeli side organized commercial flights to take back some of the Israeli citizens who were stranded there. Dutch police released a report on Nov. 9, local time, saying that a total of 63 suspects were arrested in the attack on Israeli fans in Amsterdam, and four people are still in custody.
Police said that additional officers will be deployed on the streets of Amsterdam this weekend. In addition, the Jewish Agency will receive additional security as the government implements an emergency decree allowing police to conduct preventive searches at various locations. Amsterdam Mayor Halsma has announced an investigation in response to the violence. It is understood that on November 9, Israeli airlines increased their flights from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. According to a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in the Netherlands, 3,000 people are expected to be withdrawn from Amsterdam to Israel.
Background of the Incident
On the evening of November 7, local time, Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team faced the Dutch team Ajax in the group stage of the UEFA Cup. Tensions continued to rise throughout the day, with multiple social media videos showing Maccabi fans chanting insulting slogans, praising the Israeli attacks in Gaza, and tearing Palestinian flags, according to reports. However, reports at the time mentioned that it was unclear when the videos were taken.
Hundreds of Israeli fans following the Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer team on a visit to the Netherlands were subjected to an organized attack late in the evening on the night of the match. In addition to the mob beatings that occurred in the city center, videos of motorcycles roaming in search of Jews and attacking them circulated online.
One video showed a man being hit by a man shouting “Free Palestine”, while others were chased down the street, thrown to the ground and beaten while shouting “I’m not a Jew”.
The police described the atmosphere in the stadium as fairly calm at the end of the match, with fans leaving safely, but numerous clashes were reported in the city center during the night. As the timing of the incident coincided with the historic “Kristallnacht” (note: November 9-10, 1938, when the Nazis attacked Jews across Germany), the two events were quickly drawn into an analogy.
At a briefing on Friday, Amsterdam Mayor Fink Halsema said men on motorcycles looking for Maccabi supporters on the street carried out a “hit-and-run” attack. Reminiscent of the Holocaust against Jews in Dutch and European history, she emphasized that what happened Thursday night was “shameful.” Asked if the attackers had a Moroccan background, Halsema said she could not comment on the race or nationality of the attackers, who are now under investigation by police.
Of course, the incident was quickly linked to the Middle East. Videos appeared on social media indicating Israeli fans shouting racist slogans cursing Arabs on an escalator in Amsterdam, and others scaling houses and tearing down Palestinian flags that were flying.
Society’s Reaction
According to the Times of Israel, the Dutch Prime Minister, David Schoof, strongly condemned the incident and promised to track down and prosecute the perpetrators. He stated that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and assured him that “the perpetrators will be tracked down and prosecuted”. In addition, the Government of the Netherlands had implemented an emergency decree allowing the police to conduct preventive searches at various locations, and the Jewish Agency would be provided with additional security.
The violence has attracted widespread international attention and condemnation. The latest news shows that European Commission President Von der Leyen said, “Anti-Semitism has no place in Europe, and we are determined to fight anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred.” U.S. President Joe Biden, U.N. Secretary General Guterres, and others have also spoken out to condemn the “anti-Semitic” attacks on Israeli fans.
In the wake of this incident, Bill Ackman, a Wall Street mogul and founder of Pershing Square Capital, announced that he would seek board approval to cancel the listing of Pershing Square Holdings on the Dutch Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and that it would subsequently be listed only in London. Ackerman said, “It is both good business and ethical to centralize the listing on one exchange, the London Stock Exchange, and leave a jurisdiction that fails to protect its visitors and minorities. We can also save money and improve liquidity for our shareholders.”
For now, the football world and international business community are closely watching how Dutch authorities and European leaders will respond. The attack on Israeli fans and the subsequent corporate backlash underscore the complex interplay of sports, politics, and economics in today’s global landscape.
